Break bulk goods

Targeted risk goods shipped as break bulk (not in containers) during the BMSB season from Schedule 3 countries and Japan must meet requirements in the IHS for Vehicles, Machinery, and Equipment. This applies unless they are under an MPI-approved system or safeguarding arrangements. If you want to import under safeguarding arrangements, refer to the 'Use safeguarding arrangements' section below.

Break-bulk vehicles and machinery that don't come from Schedule 3 countries or Japan, but are transhipped through these countries, don't require treatment, but must:

• have been on the port of export and any following transit port in a BMSB area for no more than 120 hours
• be separated from all untreated high-risk BMSB cargo at all times.

If your goods arrive untreated, we may refuse biosecurity clearance and reship them.

Find approved vehicle systems and cleaning providers

Goods in containers

Vehicles and machinery shipped as FCL (full container load) and FCX (full container load from multiple suppliers) must meet the same requirements as break bulk goods.

If goods were loaded from 1 September and arrived before 30 April from Japan, they must be treated before they arrive. For Schedule 3 countries, they must be treated before they arrive or may be treated on arrival. This applies to all target goods except those under MPI-approved systems or safeguarding arrangements.

Containerised goods from BMSB risk countries may be treated up to 21 days before they are shipped.

FCL/FCX containerised vehicles and machinery that arrive in New Zealand untreated from Schedule 3 countries will require treatment onshore. Importers or agents can choose treatment at either:

• the port of arrival, or
• an MPI-approved transitional facility capable of fumigation.

State your chosen option when applying for a Biosecurity Authority Clearance Certificate (BACC) to minimise delays.

All containerised goods from risk countries may be inspected.

Aircraft, motorboats, and yachts from all countries

Aircraft (helicopters and planes), motorboats, and yachts (whether break-bulk or containerised, new or used) from any country must be clean inside and out.

During the BMSB season

Aircraft, motorboats, and yachts from Japan and Schedule 3 countries must also be treated externally and internally by fogging or spraying with a residual insecticide if they leave on or after 1 September and arrive here on or before 30 April. All compartments must be opened before fogging or spraying.

You must treat with insecticide:

• in the country of origin before shipping to New Zealand
• again on arrival in New Zealand, followed by an inspection.

Treated goods must be certified and labelled as described in Section 2.1(2) of the IHS.

Some containers treated as break bulk

We class flat racks, open top, and soft-top containers as break bulk because BMSB could escape from them. If these arrive untreated, they may not be allowed off the ship and are likely to be reshipped.

Treatment options

Goods must be treated using one of the following: 

• Heat treatment at 56°C for 30 minutes for items of all sizes.
• Heat treatment at 60°C for 10 minutes for items weighing less than 3000kg.
• Heat treatment at 60°C for 20 minutes for items weighing more than 3000kg.
• Methyl bromide fumigation applied at a rate of at least a CT (concentration x time exposure) of 200 gh/m³ over a minimum of 12 hours at 10°C or above. This can be achieved by applying 24g/m³ for 12 hours at 10°C to 15°C (or greater) with an end reading of 12g/m³ (50% or more of the initial concentration).
• Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation applied at a rate of at least a CT of 200 gh/m³ over a minimum of 12 hours at 10°C or above. This can be achieved by applying 20g/m³ for 12 hours at 10°C  or greater with an end reading of 14g/m³ (50% or more of the initial concentration). 

Download the Approved Biosecurity Treatments Standard [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Alternative treatments

Where fumigation or heat treatment is likely to permanently damage sensitive freight, MPI will consider alternative measures, for example:

• lower methyl bromide rates
• fogging with a residual insecticide (specified in the MPI Standard Approved Biosecurity Treatments).

MPI may inspect the freight after treatment at a transitional facility. We'll base our approval and inspection decision on BMSB risk assessments for each sensitive cargo consignment.

To request a risk assessment and approval for alternative treatment, contact your local MPI office or the Target Evaluation Team.

If you're importing new and used vehicles and machinery as air freight, before arrival check what is required with MPI. Air freighted risk goods from Japan or Schedule 3 countries must meet IHS requirements for those countries. MPI will assess them and they may require inspection or treatment or both.

• Border clearance contact list
• Check for approved treatment providers

Maximum post-treatment period before loading

Break-bulk goods must be treated within:

• 120 hours of loading for shipment from Schedule 3 countries and from the East Coast of the USA
• 144 hours of loading for shipment from the West Coast of the USA.

Treatment of cargo in fully sealable shipping containers may be up to 21 days before shipping.

Treatment of containers before shipping is preferred and will help reduce delays with biosecurity clearance on arrival.

Keep treated and untreated goods apart

To avoid cross-contamination, we recommend you keep treated and untreated break-bulk goods separated both on the wharf before loading and on the vessel.

All break-bulk cargo of vehicles and machinery from BMSB risk countries must be separated from untreated high-risk cargo. If it isn't, we may refuse unloading or require treatment.

Break-bulk cargo of vehicles and machinery that isn't from a Schedule 3 country or Japan, but is trans-shipped through these countries doesn't require treatment but must be separated from untreated high-risk BMSB cargo. 

An MPI-approved system is an option for meeting BMSB requirements specified in the Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment IHS. An MPI-approved system must provide a high level of risk management against BMSB and other regulated pests. This can be achieved through various risk management measures, which you can carry out any time from when the vehicle or machine is manufactured, until the time it arrives in New Zealand.

Find out more about vehicle clearance systems

If you would like to discuss the possibility of an MPI-approved system for vehicles and machinery, email standards@mpi.govt.nz

We recommend you send us the correct documents at least 48 hours before the goods arrive.

If the required documents aren't submitted in time or are incomplete, the goods will be regarded as untreated and directed for treatment onshore.

If you are importing break-bulk goods and documentation doesn't show they have been treated correctly, we may re-ship them at your expense.

Cleaning certificate required for used machinery

From 1 December 2018, a cleaning certificate will be required on the approved MPI cleaning certificate template. This confirms that the used machinery was cleaned externally and internally (involving disassembly) before arrival in New Zealand and includes:

• date cleaned (and dismantled where required)
• cleaning provider's letterhead/logo including name and physical address
• name and signature of the person who conducted or supervised the cleaning. 

There are other requirements for used machinery from Japan or Schedule 3 countries. 

• MPI-approved cleaning certificate template [DOCX, 172 KB]

Treatment certificate for treated goods

Where treatment is required, a treatment certificate must:

• identify the cargo treated and include a unique identifiable link to the consignment
• specify the date of BMSB treatment, the type of treatment, and the treatment duration
• state the actual concentration of gas (if fumigated) achieved and the temperature inside the enclosure
• declare that the goods were treated prior to any plastic wrapping.

Cargo must be labelled as treated.

Bill of lading

The bill of lading must include the shipped-on-board date. MPI uses this as the date shipped from BMSB risk countries to decide whether goods are under seasonal requirements.

Classes of sea containers containing cargo that may be sensitive to approved treatments may be excluded from these treatments. Equivalent management may be used at the discretion of an MPI inspector. 

The importer must make arrangements with an MPI inspector for an inspection.

The following goods don't require MPI-approved treatment (using fumigation, heat or insecticides): 

1. All new air-freighted risk goods (excluding entire vehicles or large machinery from Japan and Schedule 3 countries during the risk season).
2. New (not field-tested) items in the exempt list below that are packaged:

• in cartons or on pallets immediately after manufacture, or
• in impervious packaging at a subsequent packing point under the direct control of the manufacturer and shipped in sea containers for direct sale. Items repackaged at a separate location that isn't controlled by the manufacturing company aren't exempt because cross-contamination with BMSB could occur.

Exempt items for #2 above include: 

• bakery, food processing and restaurant equipment
• bicycles and bicycle parts (including electric units)
• boat parts
• car parts
• children's sports equipment/toys (for example, scooters, in-line or roller skates, skateboards)
• exercise equipment (for example, exercycles, rowing machines, and treadmills)
• filters (for example, air conditioning or automotive)
• hand tools and hardware and home handyman items
• household appliances and their parts (for example, dishwashers, dryers, ovens, vacuums, washing machines, or waste disposal units for domestic use)
• laboratory equipment
• motorbikes, motor scooters, quad bikes, side-by-side racers/vehicles (whether electric or liquid fuelled) and parts of these items
• tyres (new and containerised)
• power tools for domestic or home handyman use.

MPI may target goods on the list if their risk status changes.

Note: Importers and agents no longer need to apply for an eBACCa for goods that were previously under BMSB requirements, unless the goods are under a separate risk tariff.